Posts Tagged: Plant

Benefits of Plants to People, Communities, and Urban Urban Ecosystems: Part 1

Benefits of Plants to People, Communities and Urban Ecosystems:  Part 1:

The link between horticulture and health and well-being and to urban ecosystems has been scientifically documented for centuries. In 1812, psychiatrist, professor, and Declaration of Independence signer Dr. Benjamin Rush reported in his book “Medical Inquiries and Observations, Upon the Diseases of the Mind” (Rush 1812) that patients “digging in the dirt”

fared better than their non-gardener counterparts. Since then, hundreds of scientific studies have been published documenting benefits of active (e.g. gardening/landscaping) and passive (e.g. viewing nature through a window, taking a walk in a park) interactions between people and plants and the value of plants in urban ecosystems.

Benefits related to cognitive functioning, societal and community health, and mental health are summarized below. Ecosystem and physical health benefits from interacting with nature will be discussed in next month's blog.

Improved Cognitive Functioning

Several studies link participation in gardening activities to enhanced cognitive functioning (Bratman et al. 2012; Dadvand et al. 2015; Kuo et al. 2021; Ohly et al. 2016; Park et al. 2019; Stevenson et al. 2018; Wells 2000. Research conducted by Kuo and Sullivan (2001) and Mayer et al. (2009) found that exposure to nature in urban settings can enhance attention span, working memory, and concentration. Both youth and adults who participate in greening and gardening projects were also found to have higher cognitive functioning in the areas of short and long term memory, focus and concentration (Dadvand et al. 2015; Markevych et al. 2019; Matsuoka 2010; Meuwese et al. 2021; Park et al. 2019; Stevenson et al. 2018) and reduced symptoms of ADHD (Faber Taylor and Kuo (2011).

Other studies summarized in a literature review (Williams and Dixon 2013) found that kindergarten and middle school students who participated in school gardening activities linked to classroom learning in biology, nutrition, mathematics, and other subjects earned higher grades and attained greater academic achievement than non-participants. A recent study linked high tree canopy coverage on school grounds with higher achievement scores in math and reading in middle school students across a wide range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds (Kuo et al. 2021). The experiential (hands-on) learning elements of school gardens can also bridge the gap between traditional and non-traditional learners due to its multi-sensory nature (Kolb and Kolb 2005). School gardens play an especially important academic role among elementary-aged youth from low-wealth inner city communities exposed to outdoor experiential learning that was previously lacking (Dyg et al. 2020; Kuo et al. 2021; Ray et al. 2016; Williams et al. 2013). However, Hoover et al. (2021) found that successful, sustainable school gardens require strong administrative and district support in addition to enthusiasm and support from parents and teachers.

Enhancement of Societal and Community Health

Urban greening projects that remediate vacant land, landscape streets and neighborhoods, create community gardens, and improve the health of wetlands and undeveloped natural environments can build community cohesiveness, neighborhood bonding, and mutual community pride (Diamant and Waterhouse 2010; Draper 2010; Glover et al. 2005; Hartwig and Mason 2016; Kuo and Sullivan 2001; Moyer et al. 2019; Neo and Chua 2017; Saldivar-Tanaka and Krasny 2004). With blighted uncared-for vacant lots comprising nearly 15% of total land area of U.S. cities (Branas et al. 2018) these opportunities are substantial. Results also indicate that gardening and urban greening projects unite people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds who enjoy growing and sharing produce from their native regions (Agustina and Beilin 2012; Baker 2004; Cruz-Piedrahita et al. 2020; Dyg et al. 2016; Hartwig and Mason 2016; Teig 2009). Building a sense of community through social engagement, celebrations, and communal meals has also been found to benefit both gardeners and non-gardener participants (Ober et al. 2008).

Well-designed and maintained urban green spaces not only bring people together, but can reduce crime, gun violence and enhance the safety and cohesiveness of urban neighborhoods, as summarized in several literature reviews (Bogar and Byer 2016: Mancus and Campbell 2018; Shepley et al. 2019). Some of the strongest links reported in the literature involve crime reduction in vegetated and well maintained urban neighborhoods and walkways (Branas et al. 2018; Demotto 2006; Garvin et al. 2013; Locke et al. 2017) and a reduction in gun violence in neighborhoods with green spaces including trees (Branas et al. 2018; Kondo 2017; Schertz et al. 2021; Wolfe et al. 2012). One study found that community-based greening projects that vegetated vacant lots was an effective strategy to improve neighborhood safety, resulting in a nearly 40% decrease in violent crime (Heinze et al. 2018). It should be noted that other researchers (Groff and McCord 2012) found a higher incidence of opportunistic crime in high tree canopy covered areas, perhaps due to concealed illegal activities. Another study found that actively participating in community greening projects from design through implementation and maintenance can result in a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction (Murphy-Dunning 2009). Neighbors caring for urban green spaces together also tend to spend more time conversing and building important social relationships than do non-participants (Peters et al. 2010).

Improved Mental Health 

Multiple literature reviews link interactions with nature to improved mental health in both youth and adults (Bowler et al. 2010; Clatworthy et al. 2013; Coventry et al. 2021; Cruz-Piedrahita et. al. 2020; De Vries et al. 2003; Tillmann et al. 2018) in studies conducted in parks, gardens, urban green spaces, and even shopping malls. The restorative impact of simply viewing plants has also been widely studied. Walking through a park and even viewing a natural scene through a window can lead to a sense of well-being, restfulness, reflection, and reduced mental fatigue (Shanahan et al. 2019). More recently, Dzhambov et al. (2020) found lower rates of depression in students homebound for long periods of time during the COVID-19 pandemic with views of plants (indoors and out) compared to students who lacked plant interactions. Bowler's (2010) literature review also highlighted strong associations for self-reported positive emotions and lower levels of anger and sadness in natural settings compared to non-natural settings. Interactions with nature can also reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety (Beyer et al. 2014; Gonzalez et al. 2010; Lee and Maheswaran 2011; Van den Berg and Custers 2011; Wilson and Christensen (2011).

Thompson Coon et al. (2011) reported that exercising outdoors in natural settings led to greater feelings of positivity and revitalization, less tension, anger, and depression compared to the same amount of exercise indoors. Other studies link gardening to feelings of peace and contentment (Meuwese et al. 2021; Shanahan et al. 2015; Shanahan et al. 2019). MacKerron and Mourato (2013) reported that individuals who interact with nature are often happier than those lacking this interaction and Ambrose et al. (2020) reported that home gardeners growing food crops experienced particularly high levels of happiness and meaningfulness. Bakolis et al. (2018) linked two elements of mental well-being (optimism and energy) to interactions with nature while Van den Berg and Clusters (2011) and Wood et al. (2016) found a link between engagement with nature and a reduction in stress. While White et al. (2019) determined that these benefits are maximized when individuals spend 120 minutes a week or more interacting with nature, shorter periods of exposure are also beneficial (Shanahan et al. 2016; Shanahan et al. 2019; White et al. 2019).

Other studies reported a link between growing food and a deepened sense of purpose (Tzoulas 2007; Wiesinger 2006). Digging in the soil can be a welcome distraction from busy lives laden with deadlines, traffic jams, and other everyday stressors. Focusing on the needs of plants, whether it be watering, fertilizing, harvesting or other tasks, can prove pleasantly distracting, providing time for reflection and even problem resolution (Capaldi et al. 2015; Meuwese et al. 2021; Stevenson et al. 2018). Several research papers report important positive roles that plants play related to mental health as impacts of climate change increase (Cryder et al. 2006; Dillman-Hasso et al. 2021; Doherty 2018; Fernandez et al. 2015) related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, stress, anxiety and others.

Literature Cited

Agustina I and Beilin R. 2012. Community gardens: Space for interactions and adaptations, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 36:439-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.048

Ambrose G, Das K, Fan Y, Ramaswami A. 2020. Is gardening associated with greater happiness of urban residents? A multi-activity, dynamic assessment in the Twin-Cities region, USA, Landscape and Urban Planning,198(2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103776

Baker LE. 2004. Tending cultural landscapes and food citizenship in Toronto's community gardens. Geographical Review, 94(3):305-325. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1931-0846.2004.tb00175.x

Bakolis I, Hammoud, R, Smythe, M, et al. 2018. Using Smartphone Technologies to Investigate the Impact of Nature on Mental Well-Being in Real Time, BioScience. 68:134–145, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix149

Beyer KM, Kaltenbach A, Szabo A, et al. 2014. Exposure to neighborhood green space and mental health: evidence from the survey of the health of Wisconsin. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 11:3453-3472. https://doi.org:10.3390/ijerph110303453

Bogar S. and Beyer K. 2016. Green space, violence, and crime: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 17(2)160-171. Accessed Sept. 28, 2021 from: http://journals.sagepub.com.proxyau.wrlc.org/doi/pdf/10.1177/1524838015576412

Bowler DE, Buyung-Ali, L, Knight TM, Pullin AS. 2010. Urban greening to cool towns and cities, A systematic review of the empirical evidence. Landscape and Urban Planning, 97(3):147–155. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-456

Branas C, South E, Kondo M, Hohl B, Bourgois P, Wiebe D, MacDonald J. 2018. Citywide cluster randomized trial to restore blighted vacant land and its effects on violence, crime, and fear. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/02/20/1718503115

Bratman GN, Hamilton JP, Daily GC. 2012. The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1249:118–136. https://doi.org:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x

Capaldi CA, Passmore H, Nisbet EK, Zelenski JM, Dopko RL. 2015. Flourishing in nature: A review of the benefits of connecting with nature and its application as a wellbeing intervention. International Journal of Wellbeing, 5(4):1-16. https://doi.org:10.5502/ijw.v5i4.1

Clatworthy J, Hinds J, Camic P. 2013. Gardening as a mental health intervention: a review. Mental Health Review. 18 (4):214-225. https://doi.org:10.1108/MHRJ-02-2013-0007

Coventry PA, Jennifer VE, Brown J, et al. 2021. Nature-based outdoor activities for mental and physical health: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Popul Health.1;16:100934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100934

Cruz-Piedrahita C, Howe C, de Nazelle A. 2020. Public health benefits from urban horticulture in the global north: A scoping review and framework, Global Transitions 2:246-256 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2020.10.001

Cryder CH, Kilmer RP, Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. 2006. An exploratory study of posttraumatic growth in children following a natural disaster. Am J Orthopsychiatry 76(1):65–69. https://doi.org:doi:10.1037/0002-9432.76.1.65

Dadvand P, Nieuwenhuijsen, MJ, Esnaola M, et al. 2015. Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(26):7937–7942. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1503402112

Demotto N, and Davies CP. 2006. A GIS analysis of the relationship between criminal offenses and parks in Kansas City, Kansas. Cartogr. Geogr. Inf. Sci.33:141-157. https://doi.org/10.1559/152304006777681715

De Vries S, Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, Spreeuwenberg P. 2003. Natural environments-healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between greenspace and health. Environment and planning. 35(10):1717–1731. https://doi.org/10.1068/a35111

Diamant E and Waterhouse A. 2010. Gardening and belonging: reflections on how social and therapeutic horticulture may facilitate health, wellbeing and inclusion. Br J Occup Ther.73:84-88. https:doi.org: https://doi.org/10.4276/030802210X12658062793924

Dillman-Hasso N. 2021. The nature buffer: the missing link in climate change and mental health research. J Environ Stud Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-021-00669-2

Doherty TJ. 2018. Individual impacts and resilience. In: Clayton S, Manning C (eds) Psychology and Climate Change. Academic Press, pp 245–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813130-5.00010-2

Draper C and Freedman D. 2010. Review and Analysis of the Benefits, Purposes, and Motivations Associated with Community Gardening in the United States, Journal of Community Practice. 8(4):458-492. https://doi:10.1080/10705422.2010.519682

Dzhambov AM, Lercher P, Browning MH, et al. 2020. Does greenery experienced indoors and outdoors provide an escape and support mental health during the COVID-19 quarantine? Environmental Research, 110420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110420

Dyg P, Christensen S, Peterson C. 2020. Community gardens and wellbeing amongst vulnerable populations: a thematic review, Health Promotion International, Volume 35, Issue 4, August 2020, Pages 790–803, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daz067

Faber Taylor A and Kuo FE. 2011. Could exposure to everyday green spaces help treat ADHD? Evidence from children's play settings. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3: 281-303. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01052.x

Fernandez A, Black J, Jones M, Wilson L, Salvador-Carulla L, Astell-Burt T, Black D. 2015. Flooding and mental health: a systematic mapping review. PLoS One https://doi.org:10(4):e0119929

Garvin EC, Cannuscio CC, Branas CC. 2013. Greening vacant lots to reduce violent crime: A randomised controlled trial. Inj Prev. 19:198–203. https://doi.org:10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040439

Glover TD, Shinew KJ, Parry DC. 2005. Association, sociability, and civic culture: the democratic effect of community gardening. Leis Sci. 2005;27(1):75–92. https://doi.org:10.1080/01490400590886060

Gonzalez MT, Hartig T, Patil GG, Martinsen EW, Kirkevold M. 2010. Therapeutic horticulture in clinical depression: a prospective study of active components. J Adv Nurs. 66:2002-2013. https://doi.org:10.1891/1541-6577.23.4.312

Groff, E and McCord ES. 2012. The role of neighborhood parks as crime generators. Secur. J. 25:1–24, https://doi.org:10.1057/SJ.2011.1

Hartwig, KA and Mason M. 2016. Gardens for refugee and immigrant communities as a means of health promotion. J. Community Health, 41 (6):1153-1159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0195-5

Heinze JE, Krusky-Morey A, Vagi KJ, Reischl TM Franzen S, Pruett NK, Cunningham RM, Zimmerman MA. 2018. Busy streets theory: the effects of community-engaged greening on violence. American journal of community psychology, 62(1-2):101–109. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12270

Hoover, Amy, Vandyousefi Sarvenaz, Martin Bonnie, et al. 2021. Barriers, Strategies, and Resources to Thriving School Gardens, J Nutr Educ Behav. 53(7):591-601. https://doi.org/10.1016.j.jneb.2021.02.011

Kolb DA and Kolb AY. 2005. Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education, Academy of Management Learning and Education, 4(2):193-212. Accessed Sept. 16 2021: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40214287.

Kondo MC, South EC, Branas CC, Richmond TS, Wiebe D.J. 2017. The association between urban tree cover and gun assault: a case-control and case-crossover study. American Journal of Epidemiology 186(3):289-296. https://doi.org:10.1093/aje/kwx096

Kuo M, Klein SE, Browning MH, Zaplatosch J. 2021. Greening for academic achievement: Prioritizing what to plant and where, Landscape and Urban planning, 206(2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103962

Kuo F.E.; Sullivan W.C. 2001. Environment and Crime in the Inner City—Does Vegetation Reduce Crime? Environ. Behav. 33(343). https://doi.org:10.1177/0013916501333002

Lee, ACK and Maheswaran, R. 2011. The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence. Journal of Public Health, 33(2), 212-222. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdq068

Locke DH, Han S, Kondo MC, Murphy-Dunning C, Cox M. 2017. Did community greening reduce crime? Evidence from New Haven, CT, 1996–2007. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2017;161:72–79. https://doi.org:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.01.006

MacKerron G and Mourato S. 2013. Happiness is greater in natural environments. Global Environmental Change. 23(5):992-1000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.03.010

Mancus GC and Campbell J. 2018. Integrative review of the intersection of green space and neighborhood violence. J. Nurs. Scholarsh. 50:117–125. https://doi.org:10.1111/jnu.12365

Markevych, I. Feng, X. Astell-Burt T. Standl M. Sugiri D. Schikowski, et al. 2019. Residential and school greenspace and academic performance: Evidence from the GINIplus and LISA longitudinal studies of German adolescents. Environ. Pollut. 245:71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.053

Matsuoka RH. 2010. Student performance and high school landscapes: Examining the links. Landsc. Urban Plan. 97:273-282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.06.011

Mayer FS, Frantz CM, Bruehlman-Senecal E, Dolliver K. 2009. Why Is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature. Environment and Behavior.41(5):607-643. https://doi.org:10.1177/0013916508319745

Meuwese D, Maas J, Krabbendam L, Dijkstra K. 2021. Viewing Nature Lets Your Mind Run Free: Three Experiments about the Influence of Viewing a Nature Video on Cognitive Coping with Psychological Distress. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 22;18(16):8842. https://doi.org:10.3390/ijerph18168842

Moyer R, MacDonald JM, Ridgeway G, Branas CC. 2019. Effect of remediating blighted vacant land on shootings: a citywide cluster randomized trial. Am. J. Public Health.109:140–144. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304752

Neo H and Chua CY. 2017. Beyond inclusion and exclusion: community gardens as spaces of responsibility. Ann. Am. Assoc. Geogr. 107(3):666-681. https://doi.org:10.1080/24694452.2016.1261687

Ober J, et al. 2008. Growing vegetables and values: benefits of neighborhood-based community gardens for youth development and nutrition, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition 3(4):418-439, https://doi.org:10.1080/19320240802529169

Ohly H, White MP, Wheeler BW, et al. 2016. Attention restoration theory: A systematic review of the attention restoration potential of exposure to natural environments. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 19 (7):305-343, https://doi.org:10.1080/10937404.2016.1196155

Park, SA, Lee AY, Park H, Lee WL. 2019. Benefits of Gardening Activities for Cognitive Function According to Measurement of Brain Nerve Growth Factor Levels. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(5):760. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050760

Ray R, Fisher DR, Fisher-Maltese C. 2016. School gardens in the city. Does environmental equity help close the achievement gap?. Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race, 13(2):379-395. Accessed Sept. 15, 2021 from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1742058X16000229

Rush B. Medical inquiries and observations upon diseases of the mind. Philadelphia: Kimber & Richardson; 1812. [Accessed August 28, 2010]. p. 226. Available at: http://deila.dickinson.edu/theirownwords/title/0034.htm

Saldivar-Tanaka L and Krasny ME. 2004. Culturing community development, neighborhood open space, and civic agriculture: the case of Latino community gardens in New York City. Agric. Hum. Val., 21 (4):399-412. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AHUM.0000047207.57128.a5

Schertz KE, Saxon J, Cardenas-Iniguez C, et al. 2021. Neighborhood street activity and greenspace usage uniquely contribute to predicting crime. npj Urban Sustain.1(19). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-020-00005-7

Shanahan DF, Astell-Burt T, Barber EA, Brymer E, et al. 2019. Nature-based interventions for improving health and wellbeing: the purpose, the people and the outcomes. Sports (Basel)10;7(6):141. http://doi.org:10.3390/sports7060141

Shanahan DF, Fuller RA, Bush R, Lin BB, Gaston KJ. 2015. The health benefits of urban nature: how much do we need? BioScience 65(5):476–485. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv032

Shepley M, Sachs N, Sadatsafavi H, Fournier C, Peditto K. 2019. The impact of green space on violent crime in urban environments: An evidence synthesis. Int. J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(24):5119. https://doi.org:10.3390/ijerph16245119

Stevenson MP, Schilhab T, Bentsen P. 2018. Attention restoration theory II: A systematic review to clarify attention processes affected by exposure to natural environments Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 21(4):227-268. https://doi.org:10.1080/10937404.2018.1505571

Teig E, Amulya J, Bardwell L, et al. 2009. Collective efficacy in Denver, Colorado: Strengthening neighborhoods and health through community gardens. Health & Place, 15(4): 1115-1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.06.003

Thompson Coon J, Boddy K, Stein R, et al. 2011. Does participating in physical activity in outdoor natural environments have a greater effect on physical and mental wellbeing than physical activity indoors? A systematic review. https://doi.org:10.1021/es102947t

Tillmann S, Tobin D, Avison W, Gilliland J. 2018. Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review. J Epidemiol. Community Health 72(10):958–966. https://doi.org:10.1136/jech-2018-210436

Tzoulas K, Korpela K, Venn S. 2007. Promoting ecosystem and human health in urban areas using green infrastructure: a literature review. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2007;81:167–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.02.001

Van den Berg AE and Custers MH. 2011. Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress. J. Health Psychol.16:3–11https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105310365577

Wiesinger G, Neuhauser F, Putz M. 2006. Farming for health in Austrian Farms, horticultural therapy, animal-assisted therapy. In: Hassink J., Dijk M., editors. Farming for health: Green-Care farming across Europe and the United States of America. Springer; Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 233–248. Wells, NM. 2000. At home with nature: Effects of “greenness” on children's cognitive functioning. Environ. Behav.32(6):775–795. https://doi.org:10.1177/00139160021972793

White MP, Alcock I, Grellier J. et al. 2019. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep 9(7730). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3

Wilson JF and Christensen KM. 2011. The relationship between gardening and depression among individuals with disabilities. J. Ther. Hortic. 2011;21:28–41.

Williams DR, Dixon PS. 2013. Impact of Garden-Based Learning on Academic Outcomes in Schools: Synthesis of Research Between 1990 and 2010. Review of Educational Research. 2013;83(2):211-235. http://doi.org:10.3102/0034654313475824

Wolfe MK, Mennis J, Mennis J. 2012. Does vegetation encourage or suppress urban crime? Evidence from Philadelphia, PA. Landsc Urban Plan.108(2-4):112–122. https://doi.org:10.1016/j.landurplan.2012.08.006

Wood C.J., Pretty J., Griffin M. 2016. A case–control study of the health and well-being benefits of allotment gardening. J. Public Health. 38:336–e344. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdv146

Wolch, J, Byrne, J Newell, J. 2014. Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities `just green enough'. 125:234-244. https://doi.org10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017

 

Tips to Keep Your Garden Soil Healthy

The first week of December is California Healthy Soils Week. To help "celebrate" the occasion, I was asked to give a lecture on some tips to keep your garden soil healthy. If you're the type that likes to watch videos, then you can watch the recording. (It's about 1 hour, including the questions at the end.)

If you're like me and like to get the short, bullet-point version, here it is.

Dustin's Healthy Soil Tips:

• Know your native soil (Try this link!)
• Make permanent paths
• Treat beds like beds: don't stand or walk in them and keep them covered—with mulch
• Add organic materials like compost
• Rotate crops; be sure to include cover crops
• Till gently; here's an article to learn more

Originally published on the Backyard Gardener blog (Dec. 16, 2020): 
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=44434

Invasive Plants: Don't Encourage 'Bad Neighbors'

What do ice cream, potato chips, Scotch and Spanish Broom, and Tree of Heaven have in common? While they're all tempting to indulge in, less is more. In fact, plants such as Scotch, Spanish Broom, Tree of Heaven, Pampas Grass, Green Fountain Grass, and dozens of plants are all considered invasive plants in California. Simply put, they should not be planted. There are some great alternative plants that are better choices listed at the end of this blog.

Truth be told, I admit to falling madly in love with the Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) shrubs adorning Highway 18 on my drive from San Bernardino to Lake Arrowhead in early spring 1984 right after my job interview for my current position. Being a “wet behind the ears” recently hatched graduate student from the Midwest I was truly in awe of their lovely yellow blooms and vowed to plant one if I got the chance to move to California. Fortunately, I found out very soon that, while the plantings were made on purpose, they were a mistake and needed to be removed due to their invasive nature.

While they were ‘recruited' from Europe and had what seemed like a perfect resumé (fast growth, lovely yellow flowers, adaptability to poor infertile soil and disease and insect-resistance), they didn't play well with others, a fatal flaw. In California, they were aggressive and crowded out native plantings. Fires only exacerbated the situation. After the 2003 burns, the Spanish Broom populations exploded, obliterating any remaining natives and taking an even larger area hostage. In summer 2010, the San Bernardino National Forest removed the plants in a costly but necessary $500,000 project under a partnership with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Constant monitoring continues in the San Bernardino Mountains and other areas of the state to prevent its reestablishment which is challenging due to its ability to quickly resprout, seed longevity, and effective dispersal. It has definitely earned its ‘noxious weed' label!

This is just one example of the problems posed by invasive plants. In effect, they grow too well! They outcompete desirable plants in our gardens, lawns, and other urban and natural areas for water, nutrients, and space. They also shade sun-requiring plants. Threatened and endangered plant species and other California native plants are particularly vulnerable to their encroachment. (In most cases, invasive plants are non-native species.) Interestingly, our beloved state flower, the California poppy, is an invasive plant in New Zealand, Hawaii and other locations outside of California.

 

 

As urban gardeners, we can all greatly reduce the impact of the encroachment of invasive plants in our urban environments. Please don't plant invasive sane remove plantings on your property to stop their spread. Below are some great resources to learn more about invasive plants and find viable replacements:

California Invasive Plant Council: https://www.cal-ipc.org/

Don't Plant a Pest: https://www.cal-ipc.org/solutions/prevention/landscaping/dpp/

Invasive Plants of Southern California:https://www.cal-ipc.org/solutions/prevention/landscaping/dpp/?region=socal

PlantRight: https://plantright.org/about-invasive-plants/plant

 

 

 

 

Read more